Keeping Up With University Reading

Keeping up with Uni Reading – Set Texts and Extra Reading

One thing I should say about myself is that I absolutely LOVE reading! Any spare moment I have throughout the day and night I have my nose in a book. I can read a book every other week and consider myself a speed reader. When I started at university this skill kept me in relatively good stead for the amount of uni reading that was expected.

What I wish I was more prepared for was the amount of extra uni reading that you are expected to do throughout the three year course (or for however long your course is) and how valuable it is to your learning.

Reading the set texts for your course and the extra uni reading is something you need to start getting ahead of now before your course starts, no matter what year of uni you are in.

If this is starting to sound a little intimidating, don’t panic! Here are a few helpful ideas on how you can stay ahead…

Plan Your Time

                                                                         

Sit down the night before, or choose a day in the weekend before the week starts, and plan out your week. Allocate times of the day where you are most alert and have free time to sit down with your uni reading and, if you use the library, when their opening times are to go and read there. Also allocate times in the day for reading the set texts and extra reading. Planning your time effectively will make your task clearer. You will know exactly what to do and when you need to do it.

Reading, Lecture and Notes

                                               

Your course will provide you with a schedule with the topics/books you will be studying in each lesson. Know which books you will need to read and for when and plan your time to read the texts before that particular lesson. This will allow you to know what is being discussed in the lecture and give your own input to questions on the text. Do this with your extra reading and you will earn brownie points with your tutors for being able to develop and back your argument in the discussion. You will also develop your own learning when you are familiar with the text and the theories behind them.

In the lecture make notes off what the tutor talks about, instead of copying off the PowerPoint. Usually the tutor will only put titles or key words/phrases on the slides, all of which you will have access to, but they will discuss the topics in more detail. They will provide you with most of the teachings so always make sure you not down anything they say that will be useful to what you are studying.

Keep your notes as clear as possible. Develop your own style of note taking that you will understand and will learn off. One thing I liked to do was make the notes in class and then type them up later. My notes would practically be unreadable after a lecture from keeping up with the lecturer’s speed of talking. Typing them up later on allowed me to re read and memorise what had been discussed.

Use the Library!    

                                               

When I was a student I found that using the library to keep up with uni reading and extra reading was better than reading at my student house. Depending on your university, the library will probably have different sections where you can study and where they keep course books together and will have tables and computers for students to use. Some have allocated ‘Quiet Areas’ for if you don’t want to be distracted while you study or read. This was the area of my uni’s library where I spent most of my time.

There should also be the uni cafe/cafe’s close by should you ever need a break!

To-Do Lists

                                                                                

Making a to-do list if you are struggling to keep up with the amount of uni reading you have will help you so much. Having everything you need to do down on paper will help you see exactly what needs to be done. Make them as eye catching as you want and place them where you know you will see them on a regular basis. I have mine in my diary and sometimes use different colour pens so that the tasks stand out. Create a list that works best for you.

Make sure you tick tasks off your list once completed – there’s no greater feeling!

Talk To Others

                                                             

Discussions will become the normality within your seminars, but it’s also a great idea to get together with course mates outside of class time to discuss the text or your extra uni reading. You will all be reading the same/similar readings and can offer each other different perspectives and ideas. Use your free time slots throughout the day, lunch and breaks or your time outside of uni hours to get together. Allocate set times or days where you can all get together and work; having a support system where everyone is in the same boat will make studying that little bit easier.

Take a Break!          

                                                         

Give your mind a rest and take regular breaks during your uni reading sessions. Reading takes a lot of time and concentration and cramming in information won’t help you to understand or process the information. Take a walk or grab a drink and some food and chat with your group or friends about anything other than the work. Coming back to it with a rested mind will help you to concentrate on your next task better.

I hope these tips help you in keeping up with uni reading. Just remember to plan ahead and take regular breaks to make the most out of the reading material. You’ll be okay!

For more uni advice check out The University of Manchester’s student blog here!